2014 CFL Regular Season Thread

[RyZ]

Id rather see Edmonton win even though I think they have a better chance than Sask to beat the Stamps in the West final just because I don't want any part of the #### faced #### show that Riders fans bring when that team is in town. It's like Canucks fans douchiness mixed with a 24 hour drinking binge, crystal meth, a stalk of wheat poking out the side of the mouth and no showers. #### that.

[MissTeeks]

So much cloak and dagger crap in Edmonton today:

Dave Campbell@Dave_CHED · 1h 1 hour ago
Mike Reilly is moving around a little better today but he so far is taking no first team reps. #Eskimos #CFL #yeg


Chris O'Leary@olearychris · 49m 49 minutes ago
Mike Reilly has left practice early again. #eskimos #CFL #ejlive


Chris O'Leary@olearychris · 11m11 minutes ago
Mike Reilly had a poorly timed appointment that he had to get to. No avail with him today #eskimos #cfl #ejlive #drawyourconclusions


Chris O'Leary‏@olearychris7m7 minutes ago
#eskimos last pulled the Reilly has an appointment thing when Reilly had a concussion in 2013. #cfl

[MissTeeks]

Gerry Moddejonge‏@SunModdejonge31m31 minutes ago

Chris jones on Reilly: "he's gonna play. He will be in the game." #esks #cfl

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

Arm strength is a big one too. A lot of big time college QBs can run a US offense and run options etc... but the reason they don't make it in the NFL is arm strength. With the CFL field as big as it is they would get destroyed up here. Look at Troy Smith.

Actually, Troy Smith probably had one of the strongest arms in the CFL. The only problem is that he couldn't hit an open receiver because he had horrible accuracy and timing.

One former Div 1 guy that might have a future in the CFL is Robert Marve in Winnipeg. Played at Miami before transferring to Purdue -- he looked decent for a raw rookie and has a good skill set for the CFL game.

It's also interesting watching former NFL guys (John Beck, Brian Brohm come to mind) who can obviously throw the ball, but it doesn't necessarily translate into success in the 3-down game...

[Fire]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Gerry Moddejonge‏@SunModdejonge31m31 minutes ago

Chris jones on Reilly: "he's gonna play. He will be in the game." #esks #cfl

Didn't say if he will actually hit the field. I think standing on the sidelines is consider "playing" when Jones says that.

[White Out 403]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

Actually, Troy Smith probably had one of the strongest arms in the CFL. The only problem is that he couldn't hit an open receiver because he had horrible accuracy and timing.

One former Div 1 guy that might have a future in the CFL is Robert Marve in Winnipeg. Played at Miami before transferring to Purdue -- he looked decent for a raw rookie and has a good skill set for the CFL game.

It's also interesting watching former NFL guys (John Beck, Brian Brohm come to mind) who can obviously throw the ball, but it doesn't necessarily translate into success in the 3-down game...

I prefer Marve to Willy. Willy showed through out the year he has terrible decision making and threw so many god awful costly picks. He literally single handedly threw away 2 games vs the Riders this season on final 2 min interceptions.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Question for Stamps fans: For football reasons, who are you guys cheering for on Sunday to win the West Semi and why?

I used to despise Eskimos more than any other team but the last few seasons, i hated the Riders even more. So, I am reluctanly hoping for Edmonton to win. I hope those two teams tried to kill each other Sunday.

[OzSome]

Originally Posted by Resurrection

I prefer Marve to Willy. Willy showed through out the year he has terrible decision making and threw so many god awful costly picks. He literally single handedly threw away 2 games vs the Riders this season on final 2 min interceptions.

I don't think Marve is ready to be a starter yet but yes I agree he is very impressive. Give him another season as a backup and hopefully play some games and that guy will be a starter in Winnipeg or somewhere in the CFL.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by tvp2003

It's also interesting watching former NFL guys (John Beck, Brian Brohm come to mind) who can obviously throw the ball, but it doesn't necessarily translate into success in the 3-down game...

I personally think the 3-down game is less forgiving to QBs than the 4 down game south of the border. If your accuracy isn't on point up here it doesn't matter what physical abilities you have, you aren't going to stick around. I think accuracy is more important in the CFL than NFL. Not that it isn't important down south, but they have one more down and a smaller field to contend with.

[waner]

It makes no sense to me that the CFL is playing tomorrow head to head with the NFL. Right now would seem to be a great time to get a big audience on a Saturday with basically 0 competition for viewers outside of a tiny few that will watch NCAA.

I know in the past Cohon has said that what day they play doesn't matter and they don't lose audience to the NFL but that seems very doubtful.

[dash_pinched]

Originally Posted by waner

It makes no sense to me that the CFL is playing tomorrow head to head with the NFL. Right now would seem to be a great time to get a big audience on a Saturday with basically 0 competition for viewers outside of a tiny few that will watch NCAA.

I know in the past Cohon has said that what day they play doesn't matter and they don't lose audience to the NFL but that seems very doubtful.

I agree, and it doesn't seem to be as big a factor down East, but CIS playoff football games are generally held in the corrresponding CFL stadiums for Canada West teams on Saturday afternoons.

/Shameless plug for Manitoba vs. Calgary starting at 2 pm MST today at McMahon. Go Dinos!

[jesters91]

Originally Posted by M*A*S*H 4077

Question for Stamps fans: For football reasons, who are you guys cheering for on Sunday to win the West Semi and why?

In response to your question I won't be cheering for either team. I hope the game is close and the two teams beat the crap out of one another. With my dislike for the Riders as well for ###### bag Chris Jones I will take great pleasure when the Stamps end whichever team comes to McMahon on the 23rd.

[MissTeeks]

Interesting:

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2014/11/1...rigid-playoffs

EDMONTON - Are the days of football at 10 and 20 below finally about to come to an end?
The time has come, says Edmonton Eskimos' president and CEO Len Rhodes, to move the schedule ahead.
Rhodes, your correspondent has learned, has asked for such a move to go on the agenda for the CFL Management Council Dec. 10-11 in Las Vegas.
He said he's made the request, along with Calgary Stampeders president Gord Norrie, to tackle the topic of moving the season ahead for the 2016 season. The 2015 Grey Cup is scheduled for Nov. 29 in Winnipeg.
"In my opinion we should shift the season so it starts and ends approximately two weeks earlier than it does now."

[old-fart]

Makes some sense.... training camps in the CFL already compete to some extent with NHL playoffs. Starting earlier may mean the first week or so will also compete with NHL playoffs, but so what? The CFL needs to make their money in the summer as once the NHL training camps start in September, interest in the CFL fades in every city except one.

The CFL needs to accept that it is a third tier 3, plan appropriately, and work to survive as such. Attempting to compete head to head with the NFL and the NHL is a losing situation. Moving the schedule forward might help a bit come November, but look at the attendance numbers not just last week but the last week of the regular season. Barely over 20,000 in Saskatchewan for their last game of the season, against Edmonton (at that time a possible playoff preview and a game that had meaning to see if the team would cross over or get third in the West). When was the last time a Rider team had two games in a season with less than 21,000 tickets sold? The first game (their home opener) was during a major rain storm and possible flooding so I suppose that is somewhat forgivable, but what else was there to occupy Rider fans attention for the last home game of the season in Regina?

[Barbecue]

Originally Posted by old-fart

Makes some sense.... training camps in the CFL already compete to some extent with NHL playoffs. Starting earlier may mean the first week or so will also compete with NHL playoffs, but so what? The CFL needs to make their money in the summer as once the NHL training camps start in September, interest in the CFL fades in every city except one.

The CFL needs to accept that it is a third tier 3, plan appropriately, and work to survive as such. Attempting to compete head to head with the NFL and the NHL is a losing situation. Moving the schedule forward might help a bit come November, but look at the attendance numbers not just last week but the last week of the regular season. Barely over 20,000 in Saskatchewan for their last game of the season, against Edmonton (at that time a possible playoff preview and a game that had meaning to see if the team would cross over or get third in the West). When was the last time a Rider team had two games in a season with less than 21,000 tickets sold? The first game (their home opener) was during a major rain storm and possible flooding so I suppose that is somewhat forgivable, but what else was there to occupy Rider fans attention for the last home game of the season in Regina?

They should take it a step further and have the season start in April. When you're in Canada, you need to capitalize on whatever warm weather you have. IMO, it starts in April

[JiriHrdina]

Warmer weather would also favor better teams - because skilled players would be less likely to be compromised due to weather. The CFL has had far too many cruddy teams win it all.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

Originally Posted by Barbecue

They should take it a step further and have the season start in April. When you're in Canada, you need to capitalize on whatever warm weather you have. IMO, it starts in April

Personally, I think April is a little too early, still have the potential for that late spring snow storm that seems to get us every year. Plus you're then going head to head with the NHL playoffs... I think the CFL should really be pumping money into making sure the CFL is the sport in Canada through the fall and once the Grey Cup is over then people turn to hockey, but competing that much with the NHL playoffs doesn't seem like it would work to me.

Maybe something in the middle? Make the May long weekend opening weekend, or the first weekend in June? then the season is wrapping up by late October/early November, barely competes with hockey, and warmer temperatures for the playoffs. I think the CFL should be able to outdraw the first few weeks of NHL season if it is in playoffs.

[Bar-Down]

The CFL should just shift the season back by one month.

Start the regular season at the start of June rather than the end of June.

Have both preseason games during the 3rd and 4th week of May.

Then you can end the season at the end of October instead of end of November.

I think they need to try and compete with the NFL as little as possible, sure they will compete longer with the NHL playoffs but since it is 2 different sports (hockey vs football instead of football vs. football) people will still tune in to get their Football fix as they won't have a Football alternative until NCAA and NFL start in August/September.

[MissTeeks]

Wally trying to save his butt?

CFL Official Feed‏@CFL1m1 minute ago

BREAKING: The @BCLions have relieved head coach Mike Benevides of his duties. Details to come. #CFL

[Da_Chief]

Wally shouldn't have to prove anything. He still brings in top players. Benevides is a garbage coach.